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A Black Students Mental Wellness Guide to Surviving College in L.A.
Covid - 19 Pandemic Edition
Written by: Gentamu McKinney
College is usually something young adults look forward to, despite the grueling exams and study sessions. Some may even consider it the gateway to adulthood that leads to future careers, friends that turn into family and memories to last a life time. In March of 2020 hit Covid-19 brought the world to its knees killing over 6million people in the U.S alone and 25.5 million worldwide.
This has left people feeling anxious, depressed isolated and uncertain about the future. However, for African Americans covid 19 was just half our problem. Due to Trumps racially fueled re-election campaign, minorities specifically African Americans are being racially profiled and killed by white Americans and the police in record breaking numbers since the announcement of the pandemic. On top of all this more weight was added on Black America when it lost its first real life super hero Chadwick Boseman .
As a result of this we have put together an essential guide to help Black students mentally get through this school year
- Know that what you are feeling is normal
- If you do have mental illness have a medical id card and carry with you
- Take news and social media breaks
- Declutter all your spaces, home, car, desk , phone
- Limit negative conversations about around death and politics ‘
- Make note of your triggers
- Create a small mental health kit with items that can calm you quickly
- Talk to so someone with good and positive energy
- Aromatherapy (mini sprays or roller balls, mini infuser
- Hydration, Water w/ peppermint
- Plant therapy
- Pet therapy
- Journaling
- Music or sound therapy
- Art therapy
- Crystal therapy
- Hiking
- Flower Baths
- Showers with Eucalyptus
- Massage therapy
Apps
1)Ayana Therapy
2)Safe Place
3) Purpose Pushers
Books
- Keep Calm Bring Your Carry On : The Ultimate Selfcare Guide for Travelers of Color by Gentamu ( Jen Jen ) McKinney
- The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health by Rheeda Walker
- Bipolar Faith by Monica Coleman
- Williow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey Through Depression by Meri Nana-Ama Danquah
- Im telling The Truth, but Im Lying by Bassey Ikpi
- Heavy by Kiese Laymon
- Mother of Black Hollywod by Jenifer Lewis
- My Grandmothers Hands: Racialized Truama and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem MSW
- Soothe Your Nerves: A Black Womans Guide to Understanding and Overcoming anxiety, Panic and Fear by Dr. Angela Neal- Barnett
- The Color of Hope : People of Color Mental Health Narratives by Iresha Picot
- Invisible Man , Got The Whole World Watching : Ayoung Black Man’s Education by Mychal Denzel Smith
- Preventing Bipolar Relapse: A Lifestyle Program to Help You Maintain a Balanced Mood and Live Well by Ruth.C White PhD MPH, MSW
- The Stress Management Workbook by Dr. Ruth C. White Phd, MPH, MSW
- Black Pain : It Just Looks Like We’re not Hurting by Terrie M. Williams
- Not Alone by Monica A . Coleman
- Un- Ashamed by Lacrae
- 72 hour hold by Bebe Moore Campbell
- Damage by Bernadette Y. Connor
- 4 Headed Woman by Opal Palmer Adisa
- The Star Side of the Bird by Naomi Jackson
- Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi
- Meeting Faith : The Forest Journals of a Black Buddhist Nun by Faith Adiele
- The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
- Undoing Crazy Colette Winlock
- Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Joy De Gruy PHD
- The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B Dubois
- Black Rage by William H. Grier and Price M. Cobbs
- Rock my Soul : Black People and Self Esteem by Bell Hooks
- Black Pearls: Daily Meditations, Affirmations ad Inspirations for African- Americans by Eric V. Copage
- The MisAdventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
- Standing in the Shadows by John Head
- Naked by Ayana Byrd and Akiba Solomon
- 110 Writing Prompts to Cope with Depression by Erica Gilliams , LPC
- The Hurt / Help Book : The Ultimate Guide on How to Recognize , Eliminate and Prevent Troubled Behavior by Tavackus Dawson
- The Five Commandments of Self Love; The Journey to Honoring and Accepting Yourself by Ttiffany A. Wright MSW
- 10 Steps to Happy : Thought Processing Journal by Veronica Clanton Higgins MSW
Podcast
1) Therapy for Black Girls
2) Mental Health Matters with Marty
3) Affirm
4) Between Sessions
5) Mindful Muslim Podcast
6) Fireflies Unite Podcast
7) Mann Mukti
8) Talking Off the Couch
9) Hats off Nightcap- Minisode
10) Lantix Therapy
11)Celeste The Therapist Podcast
12) Surviving Sibling Loss Podcast
13) The Hey Girl Podcast
14) Heal Haus
15) Black Girl in Om
16: Balanced Black Girl Podcast
17) Chronicles of a Play
Documentaries
- Let’s Get Mental
- Outside the House
- What’s Good Bro
Organizations
- Awareness After Dark
- Boris Henson Foundation
- Black Mental Health Alliance
- Nami Urban Los Angeles
- Black Mental Wellness
- Black Play Therapy Symposium
- Sista Afya
- Sad Girls Club
- Saddie Baddies
- OmNoire
- The Nap Ministry
- The Loveland Foundation
- Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective
Mental Health Awareness Accessories & Swag
- www.askdevilasade.com
- www.awarenessafterdarkapparel.com
- www.fckthestigma.com
- www.bmmh.org/shop
- www.mytherapykit.com
- www.mindfulandmelanated.com
- www.mentoheal.com
- www.theinnermind.org/shop
- www.beamcommunity.com
- www.theintamacyseminars.com
- www.bmmh.org
Mental Health Contact's
Suicide Prevention Hotline |
1-800- 273- 8255
Crisis Text Line |
Text: HOME to 742741
Mobile Crisis Unit Services
L.A County Department of Mental Heealth |
1-800-854-771 Option #1
Integrative & Holistic Mental Wellness Coach
Gentamu ( Jen Jen ) McKinney
Keep Calm Bring Your Carry On Co.
www.keepcalmbringyourcarryon.com